Google has added a feature on its search engine that will highlight original reporting. The changes are the result of algorithm changes that will not allow sources to be shown after newer content. Google's vice president of news, Richard Gingras, detailed how the updates will promote traffic to the original source and allow for users to also see newer content.
The original reporting changes will be managed by a team of 1,000 raters, who asses search quality on Google. The rating team will give the maximum ratings for news that provides new and original information. The raters will also take into account a publication's reputation for accuracy. However, Google did not state how much of a story needs to be original, instead it will monitor the process.
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Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Original Reporting Highlighting
- Algorithm changes that will highlight original reporting on Google searches creates an opportunity for news outlets to focus on producing more original content.
- Search Quality Assessment
- The creation of a team of 1,000 raters to assess search quality on Google presents an opportunity for a new industry focused on developing tools to optimize content for higher quality ratings.
- Reputation for Accuracy
- Google's consideration of a publication's reputation for accuracy in its original reporting changes presents an opportunity for industries such as fact-checking and media ethics to become more prominent.
Where This Applies
- News Media
- The original reporting changes on Google searches will drive news outlets to produce more original content, enabling the growth of the news media industry.
- Search Engine Optimization
- The assessment of search quality on Google creates an opportunity for industries specializing in developing content optimization tools to improve search rankings.
- Fact-checking
- The consideration of accuracy in Google's original reporting changes presents an opportunity for the fact-checking industry to grow and be more widely implemented.
